Fu Wah International Group and Regent Hotels & Resorts have officially opened the doors to its first luxury hotel in Beijing, The Regent Beijing.

The opening was attended by Madam Chan Lai Wa, the founder of Fu Wah International Group, a member of the National Committee of Chinese People's Consultative Conference. The event comes just one year after the Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing opened in Jinbao Street, which is fast taking shape as an elite shopping, entertainment and residential area, in the heart of the Wangfujing district.

The new 500-room hotel is owned by property development company, Fu Wah International Group and managed by Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific, parent company for Regent Hotels & Resorts.

Madam Chan Lai Wa, the founder of Fu Wah International Group, said, "The Regent Beijing is a key addition to our company's investment ventures. This will be our second hotel partnership with Carlson in China and reinforces our confidence in Carlson Hotels Worldwide as our trusted global partner. Jinbao Street is one of Fu Wah's key investment areas and is taking shape as one of the premium streets in Beijing. Projects in the area include shopping centres, luxury hotels and modern office buildings. It will satisfy the needs of the capital's business leaders, government visitors and even movie stars. Guests at the Regent are also in close proximity to China's most famous heritage sites including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Chang'an Street."

Located in the commercial heart of Beijing, this state-of-the-art hotel provides guests with an exclusive sanctuary that blends contemporary luxury with the charm of historic China. With interior design by Hirsch/Bedner Associates, The Regent Beijing features luxurious guestrooms and suites that offer modern facilities including complimentary high speed internet access, large plasma television screens and DVD players. A number of the guestrooms enjoy panoramic views of the Forbidden City.

For meetings and events, The Regent Beijing offers a range of function rooms from a large 700 square meter ballroom to seven alternate rooms ideal for small to medium sized meetings or banquets. A unique state-of-the-art new generation lighting system provides remote-controlled lighting, allowing for the room to be set to a variety of moods.

Paul Kirwin, president, Carlson Hotels Worldwide - Asia Pacific, said, "We are delighted to have such a strong partnership with a company as respected as Fu Wah International Group. The vision to bring the Regent style and the Regent experience to Beijing will add another touch of glamor to Jinbao Street as an oasis for all its visitors. With the Olympics less than a year away, Carlson is committed to its role in creating a world-class experience for visitors to this amazing city through properties like the Regent and also Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing. We want to ensure that visitors to Beijing have great memories of their stay in China and of course, of the games themselves."